Farming one week, firefighting the next
One of Fonterra’s Southland farmers travelled across the ditch to help fight the bush fires in Australia.
Graeme Appleby was part of the second fleet of New Zealand firefighters to be deployed to New South Wales to lend a hand in the battle against the devastating blazes burning out of control.
Graeme has been a rural firefighter with the Drummonds Voluntary Rural Fire Force, near Winton, for 13 years and has been training hard to be cleared for his first deployment overseas.
“The rural fire force are a good bunch of guys and girls doing stuff for the community, I really enjoy helping out.”
Michael Blomfield, Farm Source Business Development Manager for Southland-Otago says Graeme is a good sort, physically very fit, and he is sure Graeme would have pushed the younger firefighters along over in Australia.
Graeme is a much-valued member of the community. We all appreciate his efforts both in and outside of our Co-op, and I know over in Australia they would have appreciated his help too.
On the last night before he returned home to his farm, Graeme said things were looking more positive.
“There’s been some really nice rain here in the last few days, and the fires have died right down.
“The people in the Richmond Valley area are very grateful for us being here and have looked after us very well.”